System and method for transmitting messages received from a paging network on a paging device to electronic devices

Abstract

Systems, methods, and media are provided for transmitting a message received from a paging network on a paging device to wireless or other electronic devices. The paging device establishes a radio connection with the wireless device and transmits the received messages to the wireless device through the established radio connection. In response to receiving a message from the paging device, the wireless device sends an acknowledgment to the paging network that the message was received and displays the message.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims benefit to and is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 984,598, which was filed on Jan. 4, 2011. The contents of the above-identified application is incorporated by reference in its entirety as if recited in full herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for transmitting paging messages from a paging device to electronic devices. More specifically, certain embodiments are directed to systems and methods for establishing a radio connection between a paging device and a wireless device, such as a cellular device, and for transmitting the messages received over a paging network by the paging device to the wireless device for display on the wireless device. Other embodiments are directed to systems and methods for establishing a connection between a paging device and other devices, such as GPS navigation systems, televisions, la...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]One aspect of the invention is to deliver paging messages to users in a manner that maximizes the reliability and minimizes the delay associated with the delivery and receipt of such messages. Another aspect of the invention is to provide a universally compatible, low-cost device, which allow users to receive, view, and respond to such messages while managing and monitoring a single cellular or other wireless device. Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide such a device which does not require modification of the physical components of the device. Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a system in which emergency messages can be broadcasted to a large group of users at the same time.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, unlike cellular systems, paging systems have the ability to simulcast transmissions by utilizing constructive interference to strengthen the signal, which further increases the coverage area and penetration of the paging signals.

Conversely, cellular telephone systems typically only allow for messages to be transmitted sequentially (i.e., to a single cellular device at a time), and cannot broadcast messages to a specific group of users simultaneously.

This, in turn, decreases the negative impacts to patient health associated with the time taken to respond to the emergency.

Frequently, these emergencies involve life-threatening situations, in which minimal response time is vital.

In order to subscribe to both types of services, however, consumers typically have to carry, monitor and maintain two separate devices.

This leads to a number of inconveniences with respect to the portability, cost and ease of use of these devices.

While systems have been developed that provide an aggregated pager and cellular telephone (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,449), these systems have exhibited a number of problems, which has resulted in these devices failing to be adopted by consumers in any meaningful way.

One drawback is that, because both paging and cellular phone functionalities are implemented through shared components, only one functionality can utilize these components at a time.

Another drawback is that these devices often suffer from increased interference between the incoming paging and cellular signals, due to the extremely close proximity of the paging and cellular receivers.

These aggregated systems also experience significantly decreased battery life, due to the power requirements of implementing both cellular and paging functionalities in a single device.

Moreover, these devices do not provide for acknowledgments and status messages to be sent back to the paging network in order to ensure successful delivery and receipt of the paging messages and allow for an audit trail to be recorded.

Importantly, however, these systems do not utilize a paging network and, as such, do not provide true paging services.

As a result, these systems do not provide users with the advantages of paging services, such as greater coverage areas, penetration and reliability, and the ability to receive multicasted messages.

As a result, these systems do not provide users with paging service in addition to cellular telephone service.

Accordingly, these systems do not allow users to receive and view paging messages on the user's cellular telephone or wireless device.

A common problem associated with these events is a lack of ability to transmit mass notification messages to individuals in the threat area.

Without the ability to broadcast messages, there is no practical way to provide potential victims with status notifications in real-time.

Also, these events are often widespread and can involve a large number of emergency or response personnel.

As a result, another common problem has been the lack of ability to simultaneously provide status notifications and instructions to update and coordinate such personnel in real time.

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